Japanese manga-turned-anime series Death Note is finally coming to Netflix with a live-action adaptation.
As teased in a one-minute trailer uploaded on YouTube, The Fault in the Stars’ Natt Wolf portrays the incredibly cunning anti-hero Light Turner (Light Yagami in the manga) and his exploits after discovering a sinister notebook with the power to kill anyone whose name is written on it.
The clip starts with the supernatural notebook mysteriously falling from the sky, while glimpses of the inevitable chaos—due to Light’s persistence in “playing God”—are briefly shown.
Aside from Wolf, Hollywood staple William Dafoe is also a part of the cast, lending his voice to the malicious Shinigami (god of death) Ryuk, who’ll be shown through computer-generated imagery (CGI).
Margaret Qualley will play as Light’s love interest Mia Sutton (Misa Amane), while Keith Stansfield and Paul Nakauchi will portray the L and Watari, respectively.
Prior to Netflix’ version, three live action adaptions were shown in Japan: “Death Note 2: The Last Name” (2006); the spinoff “L: Change the World” (2008); and “Death Note: Light Up the New World” (2016).
Although it has yet to be released, Netflix’s version is already riddled with controversy, with some fans accusing the film of “whitewashing,” since both lead characters are white. The frail-looking investigator L, meanwhile, will be played by an African-American actor.
“Death Note” is scheduled for release on Aug. 25 exclusively on Netflix. Khristian Ibarrola /ra